Man Accused of Threatening Kids with Rifle

A Land O' Lakes man faces aggravated assault charges after he threatened to shoot four children, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Ronald Carl Spencer Jr, 38, brandished a rifle the children told deputies was a "sniper rifle," and said he was going to shoot them, according to a complaint affidavit.

The children ran and hid in bushes when they saw the gun, the report stated.

Post-Miranda, Spencer admitted to pulling the weapon on the children, but said he did it "only to scare them," according to the report. The weapon, seized by deputies, was found to be an air rifle.

Spencer is charged with four counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. He remains in the Land O' Lakes jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.